Trailer thieves scupper camping trip for members of scout group

Thieves stole a trailer belonging to the 1st/2nd Yorkshire Scout Group, which has 20 wolf cubs on its books, nine scouts and 10 leaders who are based at the community centre in Thornhill Lees, Dewsbury.

The scout group's Blue-line box trailer, which will cost around 3,000 to replace, was taken from outside a house in Slaithwaite Road, Dewsbury, early on Sunday.

A scout group leader had been parking it on their property for more than two years without any incidents or thefts.

The large white box trailer contained 2,000-worth of camping gear, including an ex-Army rot-proof tent – which the scout group had owned for 25 years – an events shelter, six tents (Vango and Coleman), burner stove, barbecue, tables, chairs, gas bottles, axes, saws, plates, bowls, cutlery and other utensils.

Janet Sanderson, rover scout leader, said that a planned camping expedition in December would probably not now go ahead unless replacement kit and money could be found soon.

"It's just heartbreaking," she said. "We are thinking the equipment might end up being dumped. We have had the Army tent for a long time and it has taken us years to gather all the kit together.

"We are trying to find ways of going camping in December but it looks unlikely unless we get some equipment. The cubs were planning to go camping but it will probably be cancelled."

The children and young people in the group had been looking forward to going on a camping trip in Gomersal, West Yorkshire, during the second week of December, she said.

Group scout master Debbie Ward said all the scout leaders gave their time voluntarily and money to rent premises and buy equipment came from fund-raising raffles and other events.

She said the equipment was not insured, as the group did not have the spare money for it.

"The trailer was a Blue-line box trailer, plain white in colour, and it was not insured, as we could not afford it. The trailer has been parked there for at least two years and we have never had any problems before. The contents of the trailer included an ex-Army tent which is rot proof, an events shelter, costing 170, and six tents – four two-berth Vangos, one Vango Icarus 500, and one Coleman four-berth tent.

She added: "We also had one three-burner stove, a barbecue, tables, chairs, gas bottles, axes and saws, and all our plates, bowls, knives and forks and utensils.

"We had recently spent 200 having a false floor made for the trailer, so that we could get more personal belongings in. The trailer will cost 3,000 to replace and the contents about 2,000."

She said the trailer was a vital piece of equipment for the scout group but there was no money to replace it at present.

"In August we used the trailer to take 15 scouts and leaders to a jamboree in Belgium which was attended by 600 scouts from Belgium, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Poland."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the theft was reported on Sunday and inquiries were continuing.

"We would appeal for anyone with any information to contact the Crime Evaluators department of Kirklees police on 0845 6060606."